The correct height for a toilet flange is about 1/4 inch above the floor, which should be finished. Always install the floor before the toilet flange, making sure it is level to prevent leaks or a rocking base. This height will work with pretty much any type of wax ring, allowing a good seal.
A best practice is to install the toilet flange on top of the finished floor. If you install the toilet flange flush with the finished floor, or even below the finished floor, leak paths will form, because the flange won't be at the correct height to accept the horn at the bottom of the toilet.
Yes, way too high. The bottom of the flange should be flush with the finished floor.
I'd sink some wood screws through the flange (there should be holes for that) and into your subfloor. You can put them in at a pretty sharp angle, if you have to, to hit wood. Tighten them up a little at a time until you can't move the flange. The goal is to get a secure flange without pushing the pipe down a lot.
The correct height for a toilet flange is about 1/4 inch above the floor, which should be finished. Always install the floor before the toilet flange, making sure it is level to prevent leaks or a rocking base. This height will work with pretty much any type of wax ring, allowing a good seal.
Flanges last for about 5-20 years. Worn-out flanges will no longer create a tight seal between the toilet and outflow pipe. As a result, when you flush, the toilet will leak at the base. By replacing the closet flange you will be able to stop the base from leaking.
The flange is also anchored to the subfloor with a rust-proof screw keeping it stable and free from movement. A wax ring mounted on the closet flange creates a watertight seal between the bottom of the toilet and the closet flange, preventing any leaks, odors or sewer gases from escaping the fixture.
Reasons to Caulk Around a Toilet
Moisture Prevention: Without caulk around the toilet base, external water can seep under the toilet, leading to floor and subfloor damage over time. This is especially important in bathrooms with wooden floors, as prolonged exposure to moisture can lead to rot and structural issues.
If your floor is not level, it can cause the base to wobble. If you over-tighten the bolts while the floor isn't level, it can crack your porcelain. A broken wax ring, the seal under the toilet, can also make the toilet wobble. Over time, wax seals can become worn out or damaged, leading to an unstable toilet base.
Position the new toilet wax ring on top of the toilet flange, ensuring it is centered. Want to know more about choosing the correct wax ring size, crucial installation tips, and other frequently asked questions? Check out our Oatey 101: Wax Rings blog.
Toilet manufacturers have weighed in on this discussion to recommend that you place tiles beneath the toilet flange. What they recommend is to put the flange on top of the tile, ensuring that the bottom of the flange touches the surface of the tile.
Toilets usually rock because they are not resting flush against the floor. Underneath the toilet base is a round toilet flange that connects the toilet to the drain pipe. If the flange is a little higher than the surrounding flooring, the toilet becomes raised slightly in the center, allowing it to rock to either side.
If the flange is too high, you can carefully trim it to the correct height. This can be done using a hacksaw or an angle grinder.
It's an a Push Tite gasketed closet flange. Simply push this down into the old closet flange and secure it to the wood subfloor with galvanized or stainless steel screws.
If the pipe has a 4-inch inside diameter:
This toilet flange is designed to glue on the inside of the pipe or expand inside the pipe. Leave the old toilet flange in place and glue on the new one at the correct elevation for the floor, if it's plastic.
Caulk keeps your toilet secure the floor, and avoids any chance of injury or toilet malfunctioning. It's actually required by the International Plumbing Code to caulk a toilet to the floor, and now knowing the reasoning behind it, why would you not want to?
Plunging can usually only loosen clogs that are close to the bowel. What's more, if you're too vigorous with your plunging, you might mess dirty toilet water out of the bowel. Besides this, too much plunging can also damage the wax ring at the base of your toilet.
PVC flange, the most common type of flange, simply lift it from the outflow pipe. If the flange is metal or glued to the drain pipe and cannot lift out once the bolts are removed, call a licensed plumber to remove it for you.
Secure flange with screws or anchors
Secure the flange to the subfloor, below the finished floor using the approved screws and anchors. Note: Screws should pass through the finished floor and be secured into the subfloor.
Can you put a new toilet flange over an old one? A standard toilet flange should fit snugly into the outflow pipe and sit level with the subfloor. Installing a new one without first removing the old one will make it impossible to form a seal and keep the toilet bowl bolted securely in place.
For a plumber, replacing a toilet flange is a quick and easy job. Replacing a toilet flange costs $145 to $165 on average.
But, the rule of thumb is to replace your toilet every 25 years, due to damage and regular wear and tear. If you have an older toilet, you should consider newer model toilets as they will be more efficient in conserving water and utility costs.
The wax ring is exactly what it sounds like: a ring made of sticky wax that helps form a watertight seal between the bottom of the toilet and the sewer pipe. It requires no maintenance and can last 30 or more years, often as long as the toilet itself. But sometimes wax rings can dry out, crumble, and fail prematurely.